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Nasri & Clichy feature in France victory

France 2-0 Romania – Samir Nasri & Gael Clichy

France moved top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group D off the back of their 2-0 success over Romania, which was kick-started by substitute Loic Remy’s strike 10 minutes from time.

Arsenal duo Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy both started the game, with the latter supporting Nasri down the left hand side.

The first half’s best moment came from Karim Benzema, whose deft curling effort from the corner of the box skimmed off the post before flying out for a goal-kick.

After the interval, goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon came to the fore for the Romanians, palming a well struck shot from Mathieu Valbuena onto the crossbar and soon afterwards making a remarkable double-block to deny Samir Nasri, whose charge down the left seemed to have decisively unlocked the sturdy visiting defence.

Les Bleus only showed their attacking potential in bursts. The highlight of their period of attacking pressure was a move constructed initially down the right by Valbuena, though it was Nasri’s lofted pass that created a chance for Florent Malouda that was crashed into the side netting by the Chelsea winger.